In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “coercion” means compelling an individual to act against his will by use of psychological pressure or physical force causing bodily injury or threat thereof;
(b) “conversion” means renouncing one religion and adopting another;
(c) “fraudulent” means to do a thing with intent to defraud;
(d) “force” includes a show of force or a threat of injury of any kind to the person converted or sought to be converted or to any other person or property including a threat of divine displeasure or social ex-communication;
(e) “Government or State Government” means the Government of Himachal Pradesh;
(f) “inducement” means and includes offer of any temptation in the form of any gift or gratification or material benefit, either in cash or kind or employment, free education in reputed school run by any religious body, easy money, better lifestyle, divine pleasure or otherwise;
(g) “minor” means a person under eighteen years of age;
(h) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(i) “religion” means any organized system of faith, belief, worship or lifestyle, as prevailing in India or any part of it, and defined under any law or custom for the time being in force;
1. Act came into force from 18th December, 2020 vide Notification No. Home C(A) 1-5/2012.
dated, 18th December, 2020 published in the Rajpatra, Himachal Pradesh, dated 18th December, 2020 p 6008.
3 THE HIMACHAL PRADESH FREEDOM OF RELIGION ACT, 2019
(j) “religious priest” means priest of any religion who performs purification Sanskar or conversion ceremony of any religion and by whatever name he is called such as pujari, pandit, mulla, maulvi, father etc.; and
(k) “undue influence” means the unconscientious use by one person of his power or influence over another in order to persuade the other to act in accordance with the will of the person exercising such influence.